CHAPTER 9. ANSWER TO PETITION

Art. 646. Answer; appearance; objection

            A. The court shall require the parent to appear and to answer the petition at any time prior to the adjudication hearing but no later than fifteen days after the filing of the petition. If a parent is absent, the court shall make written findings of fact or include in the minutes whether notice of the date, time, and place of the hearing and the right to attend and be heard was properly served.

            B. If the petition is filed prior to or during the hearing to determine continued custody, the court may order the parent to answer the petition upon completion of the hearing.

            C. At the appearance, the court may either convene immediately a prehearing conference authorized by Article 646.1 or set a date for the conference.

            D. At this hearing, the parent shall be asked to provide an electronic mail address at which the parent is willing to receive service and notice of future proceedings. The court shall advise the parent that once an electronic mail address is provided, all service and notice of future proceedings may be sent electronically until such time he provides notice to the court and all parties in writing or in open court that he is no longer able to receive service or notice at such address.

            E. The court may schedule future hearings and serve notice in open court.

            F. If a child is absent, the court shall make written findings of fact or include in the minutes whether the attorney for a child who is twelve years of age or older moved to waive the presence of the child or whether the attorney for the child or the court requested the presence of a child who is under the age of twelve years. If presence was not waived or the child is not present after a request, the custodian or the department shall provide reasons for the absence of the child, and the court shall determine on the record whether the hearing may proceed.

            Acts 1991, No. 235, §6, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 1999, No. 449, §1, eff. July 1, 1999; Acts 2015, No. 124, §1, eff. June 19, 2015; Acts 2026, No. 139, §1.